NFS: optimum performance computer

Hi all, After hearing all the positive response about Need for Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). Thanks.

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> Hi all, > After hearing all the positive response about Need for > Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for > optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). > Thanks.

I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast video card is not fast enough in SVGA.

What??!! I have a Gateway P133 and it runs *perfectly* with SVGA, max *everything*, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc..... What brand of 133 won't it run perfectly on? --Evan

I run Need for Speed on a Dell P120, 16meg memory, Diamond Stealth 2mbVRAM card with all details on in high resolution without any problems.

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|> >> After hearing all the positive response about Need for |> >> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for |> >> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). |> >> |> >> Thanks. |> > |> >I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast |> >video card is not fast enough in SVGA. |> |> What??!! I have a Gateway P133 and it runs *perfectly* with |> SVGA, max *everything*, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc..... |> What brand of 133 won't it run perfectly on?

Ha! I have a P100 asynchronous cache with an ATI Winturbo card, running NFS in SVGA, max everything, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc... smooth as silk. the P133 must have something wrong. -- Isaac Wong % Protel Compiler Group TEL: (613) 763-6127 % Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

: |> >> After hearing all the positive response about Need for : |> >> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for : |> >> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). : |> >> : |> >> Thanks. : |> > : |> >I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast : |> >video card is not fast enough in SVGA. : |> : |> What??!! I have a Gateway P133 and it runs *perfectly* with : |> SVGA, max *everything*, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc..... : |> What brand of 133 won't it run perfectly on? : Ha! I have a P100 asynchronous cache with an ATI Winturbo card, running NFS : in SVGA, max everything, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc... smooth as silk. : the P133 must have something wrong. Are you sure your P100 run as smooth as silk in SVGA? Go back to VGA mode and you can find the meaning of "smooth as silk"! I got a P120 in SVGA, turning off horizon, still find it obvisouly slower than that in VGA mode. I think at least P200 or P133 with 3D accelerator will get the similar frame rate in SVGA as VGA mode. : -- : Isaac Wong % Protel Compiler Group : TEL: (613) 763-6127 % Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

(Evan) writes:

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>|> >> After hearing all the positive response about Need for >|> >> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for >|> >> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). >|> >> >|> >> Thanks. >|> > >|> >I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133

with fast >|> >video card is not fast enough in SVGA. >|> >|> What??!! I have a Gateway P133 and it runs *perfectly* with >|> SVGA, max *everything*, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc..... >|> What brand of 133 won't it run perfectly on? >Ha! I have a P100 asynchronous cache with an ATI Winturbo card, running NFS >in SVGA, max everything, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc... smooth as silk. >the P133 must have something wrong. I have a Packard Bell P90 with 8MB of RAM, SVGA, SB16 compatible, and 2X CD-ROM. The Gameplay is not REALLY smooth as silk, but it's definately smooth (with all graphics on or on high and running the highest resolution mode). No problems at all, except I can't get 16-bit sound for some reason. I installed it custom with everything loaded on HD that's possible. I wish the movie videos would run a little smoother... Great game, but how about some more cars and tracks? I'm bored of all them already. I got the patch so I can drive the "Warrior" and drive on "Lost Vegas". That's got me playing it more. Also, I LOVE driving the "Warrior" on the Gravel covered "Rusty Springs"! 130 m.p.h.-plus burnouts!!!

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>> What??!! I have a Gateway P133 and it runs *perfectly* with >> SVGA, max *everything*, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc..... >> What brand of 133 won't it run perfectly on? >Perfectly is a strong statement. Are you telling me that it runs at >high-res, full-screen, all details on and still gets 30+ fps? If so please >tell me all the details of your system configuration. From type of cache, >brand and type of motherboard to kind of video board. I can use that >information to upgrade my system (home brew Pentium 120).

I have a P5/133 system as well and find the game as smooth as silk. As well, I'm pretty fussy about frame rate - gimme 20 fps in VGA anyday over 15fps in SVGA. I just can't stand any degree of choppiness. My system: ASUS P55TP4XE motherboard with 256K sync pipeline burst cache. 16mb 60ns EDO ram Matrox Millenium 2mb VRAM video card. That's really all that matter when frame rate is concerned. The Millenium seems to score unusually high with SVGA games. It's in the high-end of the spectrum with VGA, but SVGA seems to be ahead of others! 125 - but don't put too much faith in this old benchmark. Doesn't mean much anymore. Seems all fast machines + video cards seem to score EXACTLY 125.0, with the next lowest step at 111 (I think). Nothing in between from the benchmark lists I've seen. Definitely shows that the program is running outside it's bounds.

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>> Hi all, >> After hearing all the positive response about Need for >> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for >> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). >> Thanks. >I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast >video card is not fast enough in SVGA.

Mine runs smooth also! I have a P133, with pipelined burst cache, 16 meg. EDO mem. Triton chipset. PCI Diamond Stealth 2meg. V-Ram. 6-spin CD-Rom Plextor, Awe32 mode-4. BusMastering.

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> >> Hi all, > >> After hearing all the positive response about Need for > >> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for > >> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). > >> Thanks. > >I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast > >video card is not fast enough in SVGA. > Mine runs smooth also! I have a P133, with pipelined burst cache, > 16 meg. EDO mem. Triton chipset. PCI Diamond Stealth 2meg. V-Ram. > 6-spin CD-Rom Plextor, Awe32 mode-4. BusMastering.

Well, I bought the game right after I posted. It does appear to run smoothly with hi-res, all details on, and 16 bit stereo... BTW, I have a Dell Dim. P133c, 256K pburst cache, 16MB EDO RAM, 4x CD, SB AWE32(Value Ed), and #9 Motion771 video card w/ 2MB VRAM (supposed to be weaker than other cards in DOS). After the initial awe of the cool hi-res graphics, I tried fooling around with the different graphics and audio settings and the games does seemd to run faster under lower Image Quality settings. (switching between setting using F2 while speeding in the first City segment) I say "seemed" since the scenery going by as a blur of blurred pixels might have make it appear as if it was a lot faster. (The other details and audio options didn't seem to have any noticeable effect.) Ever since then, I can't escape the sense that hi-res isn't as smooth as I thought it was before I tried messing around with the options. Also, setting the game on one of the Auto settings made the game run in high during crashes and very low speeds (start, slow turns) and low/medium during higher speeds which seems to support the unscientific tests I was trying. I'm interested in hearing from the other people who have stated that NFS runs smoothly for them on P120s and P133s. Are you getting the same sort of results? Are NFS and other games in general made such that they run at a one certain speed (or framerate) given the processor can support it (so that a game that runs optimally at 30 frames/sec. on a 486 also runs at 30 frames/sec on a Pentium) or are they programmed to run as fast as the CPU allows? And, is there any definitive way to find out whether or not a computer is running in hi-res to its full capability? Someone mentioned framerates...was this an eyeball estimate or figure that can be calculated somehow? bing

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>> Hi all, >> After hearing all the positive response about Need for >> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for >> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). >> Thanks. >I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast >video card is not fast enough in SVGA.

Gee, you must have a badly configured system. I ran Nee For Speed on a Pentium 90 with a Diamond Stealth 64 2Meg DRAM and I'm sure I was getting at least 20 fps at the more graphically intensive sections and most probably achieve 25 fps on average. Mind you, I find it hard to detect frame rates over 25 fps. One thing is certain, in frame rate performance, it runs rings around NASCAR in SVGA. -- =========================================================================== + Philip Yeoh | Linux + Pentium 90: + + Computing Science | Finally, a REAL workstation. + + Curtin University of Technology |--------------------------------------+ + Perth, Western Australia | Top shows on TV: + + | X-Files, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, + + e-mail: | Mad About You, Home Improvement. + + | The truth is out there. + ===========================================================================

Is 640x480 considered svga? I only have 2 choice, 300x320 and 640x480 are more resolution than that? Anyways, I have a P100 w pipeline bust cache, Cirrus logic 64-bit 2MB dram video card, 32mb regular Ram and running it on 480x640 w/ all graphic and detail high and it runs silky smooth. is there a 800x600 resolution option? I just bought the game last week and I have been spending many sleepless nights playing it and I love it. is there any site that I can download patch to get new cars and tracks. also if you know any trick and shorcut for some nice feature, pleeeease let me know! Thanx, Yao Tan

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>>> After hearing all the positive response about Need for >>> Speed, I was wondering what kind of system is needed for >>> optimal performance (max details, 16 bit stereo sound). >>> Thanks. >>I don't think we have an optimum system yet. Even a Pentium 133 with fast >>video card is not fast enough in SVGA. > What??!! I have a Gateway P133 and it runs *perfectly* with >SVGA, max *everything*, 16-bit stereo, full-screen etc..... > What brand of 133 won't it run perfectly on? >--Evan

I have a P100 with 32mbs and an ATI mach64 with 2mb... NFS runs BEAUITIFULLY in SVGA with everything turned on high( the sound as well) I am seriously impressed with it I must say. Nap

BI>Well, I bought the game right after I posted. It does appear to run smoothly >with hi-res, all details on, and 16 bit stereo... BTW, I have a Dell Dim. >P133c, 256K pburst cache, 16MB EDO RAM, 4x CD, SB AWE32(Value Ed), and #9 >Motion771 video card w/ 2MB VRAM (supposed to be weaker than other cards >in DOS). BI>After the initial awe of the cool hi-res graphics, I tried fooling around >with the different graphics and audio settings and the games does ... >and low/medium during higher speeds which seems to support the >unscientific tests I was trying. I'm interested in hearing from the >other people who have stated that NFS runs smoothly for them on >P120s and P133s. Are you getting the same sort of results? Now I don't know how much slower (if any) the actual real version runs than the demo I played, but I had no apparant problems getting smooth graphics on SVGA with my P60 (read "Packard Bell Pentium-60!", yes a Packard Bell) with 8 megs RAM. No problems at all. However, NASCAR won't run full detail with 38 oppenents in VGA on FM sound. Go Figure. --- * TLX v4.10 * An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance. --- * OLX 2.2 TD *

Mine is a Gateway P5-120. All details maximum and it runs beautifully. Don't know the frame rate, but it looks natural. ---------------------------------------------------------- David W. Griffin | (407) 830-4133 Orlando, Florida | (407) 830-6795 FAX

Mine is a Pentium90, 16MB, S3/864-2DRAM Videoboard, NFS runs in SVGA (with all graphic options on) as smooth as no other game I ever had on my PC in SVGA. With a radio turned on near the monitor, you can "hear" the sreen frames of the monitor with a "crack!" on the radio (on any station...g). It was so fast, i couldnt count it. somewhere between 15 to 20 fps. Mike

Bah, who needs speed anyway, we've got Nascar and (soon) Indycar 2.0 *flame* (grin) Tommi Pajari P.S. Your system sucks :)

NASCAR? Indycar 2.0? Sod that, WE'VE got F1GP2....... Cheers! John P.S. - I know, it's great....!! -- oooO _ _ Oooo John Wallace, Edinburgh (Scotland) ( ) / ) ( \ ( ) CompuServe : 100347,3560 \_)(___) (___)(_/ oooO Oooo